WHAT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE?

Good governance is about the processes for

making and implementing decisions. Its not
about making correct decisions, but about the
best possible process for making those
decisions.

Good decision-making processes, and therefore

good governance, share several characteristics.
All have a positive effect on various aspects of
local government including consultation policies
and practices, meeting procedures, service
quality protocols, council and officer conduct,
role clarification and good working
relationships.
https://goo.gl/bcuCWz

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD

GOVERNANCE?
Good governance is accountable

Accountability is a fundamental requirement of good governance. Local government has an obligation to report, explain
and be answerable for the consequences of decisions it has made on behalf of the community it represents.

Good governance is transparent

People should be able to follow and understand the decision-making process. This means that they will be able to clearly
see how and why a decision was made what information, advice and consultation council considered, and which
legislative requirements (when relevant) council followed.

Good governance follows the rule of law

This means that decisions are consistent with relevant legislation or common law and are within the powers of council. In
the case of Victorian local government, relevant legislation includes the Local Government Act 1989 and other legislation
such as the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, and the EqualOpportunityAct 2010.

Good governance is responsive

Local government should always try to serve the needs of the entire community while balancing competing interests in a
timely, appropriate and responsive manner.
 Good governance is equitable and inclusive

A communitys wellbeing results from all of its members feeling their interests have been considered by council in the
decision-making process. This means that all groups, particularly the most vulnerable, should have opportunities to
participate in the process.

Good governance is effective and efficient

Local government should implement decisions and follow processes that make the best use of the available people,
resources and time to ensure the best possible results for their community.

Good governance is participatory

Anyone affected by or interested in a decision should have the opportunity to participate in the process for making that
decision. This can happen in several ways community members may be provided with information, asked for their
opinion, given the opportunity to make recommendations or, in some cases, be part of the actual decision-making
process.ct 1989 the council is required t

It is important to remember that under the Local Government Ao either make decisions or delegate the decision-making
power to officers or Special Committees. For more information see How decisions are made.

http://www.goodgovernance.org.au/about-good-governance/what-is-good-
governance/

Good governance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

local governance[1] or to the interactions between other sectors of society.

The concept of "good governance" often emerges as a model to compare ineffective

economies or political bodies with viable economies and political bodies. [2] The concept
centers on the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of
the masses as opposed to select groups in society. Because countries often described as
"most successful" are Western liberal democratic states, concentrated in Europe and the
Americas, good governance standards often measure other state institutions against these
states.[2] Aid organizations and the authorities of developed countries often will focus the
meaning of "good governance" to a set of requirements that conform to the organization's
agenda, making "good governance" imply many different things in many different contexts.
[3][4][5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_governance

Governance refers to "all of processes of governing, whether undertaken by a government, market or

network, whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization or territory and whether through
the laws, norms, power or language."[1] It relates to "the processes of interaction and decision-making
among the actors involved in a collective problem that lead to the creation, reinforcement, or
reproduction of social norms and institutions." [2]
A variety of entities (known generically as governing bodies) can govern. The most formal is
a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a
given geopolitical system (such as a state) by establishing laws. Other types of governing include an
organization (such as a corporation recognized as a legal entity by a government), a socio-political
group (chiefdom, tribe, family, religious denomination, etc.), or another, informal group of people. In
business and outsourcing relationships, governance frameworks are built into relational contracts that
foster long-term collaboration and innovation. Poor governance can lead to contract failure. [3]

Governance is the way the rules, norms and actions are structured, sustained, regulated and
held accountable. The degree of formality depends on the internal rules of a given organization and,
externally, with its business partners. As such, governance may take many forms, driven by many
different motivations and with many different results. For instance, a government may operate as
a democracy where citizens vote on who should govern and the public good is the goal, while a non-
profit organization may be governed by a small board of directors and pursue more specific aims.

In addition, a variety of external actors without decision-making power can influence the process of
governing. These include lobbies,political parties, and the media.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance